Toronto March Break Ideas for Kids

March break is approaching rapidly and students from both the Toronto School Board and the Toronto Catholic District School Board are getting ready for a long-awaited week of free time for them to enjoy in the middle of winter. This year’s March Break runs from Monday, March 12th to Friday, March 16th. Some great news for families is that there are tons of activities for their kids taking place in Toronto, so if you don’t decide to travel out of the city or join one of the many camps, you will have plenty of opportunities to choose from.

Many prominent institutions provide extended hours, discounts on admission prices, and special programming to lure in little visitors. Since a great number of family attractions and events have released detailed information on March Break programming, this post will provide you with some of the coolest highlights of the March Break offer in Toronto. Check it out and get inspired!

ROM March Break

Maya-themed activities will be the main attractions of March Break at the ROM. The programming runs daily from 11:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. and features, for example, a workshop on the creation of Mayan jewelry, the making of a Quetzal bird, one of the most sacred beings in the Mayan world, and a game show that includes pyramid building and playing a ball game similar to the Ancient Mayas’ game. At all times, a Maya High Priest will be present at the ROM to consult the kids about true Mayan ways. The museum also decided to extend its opening hours, closing at 8:30 most nights. Furthermore, Friday night comes with reduced pricing.

Besides regularly scheduled Keeper Talks, the Toronto Zoo invites visitors to hide from the cold in one of its tropical pavilions and get as close as possible to amazing exotic animals. In addition, everyone will be offered a delicious hot chocolate. Another important attraction of the week is the “Name the Cub” contest, the Toronto Zoo’s initiative asking people to suggest a name for the zoo’s new polar bear cub, ending on March 16th. Don’t miss your chance to come up with the best name for the little baby bear!

The Hockey Hall of Fame provides the ultimate March Break experience for all hockey lovers. Besides ordinary attractions such as shooting on real-time goalies, calling play-by-plays on some of the most memorable goals, and walking through an exhibition that comprises virtually everything important in hockey history, the March Break programme goes much further. Whole families get the opportunity to meet Toronto team mascots, get autographs from the Toronto Marlies, or play floor hockey. The Hockey Hall of Fame also has extended hours, mostly from 9:30 A.M. to 6:00 P.M.

The Bata Shoe Museum will be filled with magic and magicians during March Break. Toronto’s Magic Guy Phil Pivnick will perform a special magic show on Monday, March 12th. Other days’ schedules include shows from the Wandering Magician. All week long, visitors will have the opportunity to make their own wand, decorate a spell book, make a wish on a magic lantern, or dress up in wizard costumes. Every day also features a daily draw for a magic kit and more. The drop-in activities will take place between 10:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. every day.

The Toronto Botanical Gardens have decided to organize day camps during March Break, inviting children to cook food, perform science experiments, paint, and learn by play about plants and animals. All the fun activities are tailored to children six to ten years old and take place between 9:00 A.M. and 4:00 P.M. When it comes to fun camps, you can choose from Eco-Art Camp, Food Camp, Science Camp, Exploration Camp ,and Animal Camp. Organizers recommend early registration, since the space in each of the day camps is limited.

Even though this largest flower and garden festival in Canada only starts on March 16th, it’s a great opportunity to bring in colours and fragrance to the end of this year’s March Break. The 15th annual Canada Blooms event returns with even better lectures and demonstrations and more than six acres of garden displays full of beautiful plants for your home and garden. Canada’s largest and most prestigious floral competition is part of the programme.

Even though Black Creek is usually closed this time of the year, March Break is too important an occasion not to make a special opening! From March 10th to 18th, the gates of the Black Creek Pioneer community will be open to welcome visitors who are keen on learning how to make maple syrup, taking wagon rides, or tasting some of the best traditionally prepared seasonal treats. Pioneer games and other special activities will also be prepared for guests.

Toronto’s castle will be full of fairy tale magic with its Snow White & Prince Charming March Break Brunch and many other shows and events aimed at children audiences. Get taken away by princesses or pirates in the unforgettable atmosphere of Casa Loma. Various events take place daily from 9:30 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. and almost always include a self-guided tour of the castle.

Join this total sensory experience for the whole family to enlighten yourself and your kids by exploring a unique world with all your senses but sight. Can You See in the Dark? is inspired by the short animated film Private Eyes, in which a boy is used to seeing in the dark and has eyes everywhere. The activity lasts approximately 90 minutes.

Seeing all the activities prepared for March Break, I guess deciding how to fill in the precious time off school isn’t going to be easy. However, children will certainly love keeping busy with fun events all around the city with the whole family before hitting the classroom again.